Kudos - Orlando area folks we're proud of

[spenser1058]

Just a shoutout on behalf of all us nerds - OCPS passes on Siyona Mishra of Orlando Science Middle/High  is representing us in the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in DC this week - congrats and good luck! Here's hoping she wins it all!

Edited June 1, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Jim Philips' impending retirement from his long running "Philips File" on 104.1 marks the end of an era for a radio host who often pretended to be above the fray of local politics and presenting his show as "just entertainment." 

In reality, he often worked both on and off the air to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." His show will be missed and I wish him a great retirement.

From Watermark:

http://www.watermarkonline.com/2017/07/06/ladyfingers-an-ode-to-jim-philips/

Edited July 6, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

A 10-year old chess whiz from OCPS - woohoo!

http://m.mynews13.com/content/mobile/news/cfnews13/news/article.touch.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2017/7/6/autistic_elementary_.html

[prahaboheme]

Brownie Wise, who lived in Kissimmee and started the "Tupperware Party" phenomenon that swept the nation in the 1950s, is now commemorated with the dedication of Brownie Wise Park in Tupperware Conservation Area at Lake Toho.

Video on FB:

 

Edited July 24, 2017 by prahaboheme

[spenser1058]

Joel Hunter, the longtime pastor of Northland Community Church, is stepping down at age 69. He has been one of the more inclusive voices in the region, seeking to bridge the divide between evangelical Christians and other faiths as well as those with other viewpoints.

Orlando is the diverse community it is today in part thanks to his efforts.

Here's wishing him well in his next endeavors.

http://religionnews.com/2017/08/02/joel-hunter-to-step-down-from-orlando-megachurch-he-founded/

(From religion news.com)

[spenser1058]

Kudos to the guys on the Dr Phillips football team for winning the state 8A football title for 2017. So often, central Florida has played second fiddle to other regions of the state in the championship games. Now, just as UCF emerged as Florida's lone undefeated team, we're making strides with the preps as well. Great job!

Whitley: No more heartbreak for Dr. Phillips
http://bit.ly/2BpEXCd

From the Sentinel

[spenser1058]

Not from Orlando but it's still important to take a moment to note the passing of architect/developer John Portman.

I was born in Orlando but Atlanta was my first "big city" (ironically, on my first visit in 1970, the Atlanta metro was about the size Orlando's MSA is now and it seemed to have so much more history, even if much of it had been invented by Hollywood in 1939.) 

Brunch at Portman's Hyatt Regency Atlanta as a kid spurred my fascination with cities and the built environment. His creations also spawned lots of imitations like our own Contemporary Resort at  WDW. 

Although his soaring atriums became a cliche and the tendency for his developments to separate themselves from the cities in which they existed fell out of favor (as folks like me realized Jane Jacobs knew more about what made cities viable than Robert Moses), Portman was nevertheless an important part of the Renaissance of US urban life.

John Portman, Architect Who Made Skylines Soar, Dies at 93
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/30/obituaries/john-portman-dead.html

From the New York Times

[spenser1058]

This is a huge opportunity for the Jones chorus kids and a great way to show off just how talented our OCPS students are. Please support them if you can.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/arts-and-theater/the-artistic-type/os-et-jones-high-carnegie-hall-20180118-story.html?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Contentutm_content=5a63add79ebbef000775f937utm_medium=trueAnthemutm_source=facebook

From the Sentinel

[spenser1058]

Congrats to local attorney and FFO John Ruffier for being elected vice chair (with accession to chair next year) of the national HRC board of directors. 

http://www.watermarkonline.com/2018/01/24/central-florida-attorney-elected-chair-hrc-board-directors/

From Watermark

[orlandoguy]

Congrats to local attorney and FFO John Ruffier for being elected vice chair (with accession to chair next year) of the national HRC board of directors. 
http://www.watermarkonline.com/2018/01/24/central-florida-attorney-elected-chair-hrc-board-directors/
From Watermark

Great news and an awesome opportunity for Ruffier. I especially like hearing about their Project One America initiative. For all it's positives for the local LGBTQ community, we DO live in a bit of a bubble in Orlando. It's easy to forget things aren't as easy in many other states.

[spenser1058]

Carlos Guillermo  Smith has won the St. Pete Times' Florida Politics Winners of the Week nod for his work with Publix on the PrEP issue.

Since Carlos is in the minority party and not from Tampa Bay, it's impressive for a FL House member to get the attention. Nevertheless, it's unsurprising as he's one of the hardest working legislators I've encountered. I can't wait to see what will be the next step in his career.

http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/02/11/winner-and-loser-of-the-week-in-florida-politics-11/

Edited February 11, 2018 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

On 1/21/2018 at 2:36 PM, spenser1058 said:

This is a huge opportunity for the Jones chorus kids and a great way to show off just how talented our OCPS students are. Please support them if you can.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/arts-and-theater/the-artistic-type/os-et-jones-high-carnegie-hall-20180118-story.html?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Contentutm_content=5a63add79ebbef000775f937utm_medium=trueAnthemutm_source=facebook

From the Sentinel

UPDATE: The Jones kids were featured on Ellen and got a big boost to move their fundraising goal forward:

https://www.ellentube.com/video/ellen-helps-high-school-choir-with-carnegie-hall-dreams.html

[spenser1058]

One of Florida's greatest heroes would be smiling at her namesake school kids' activism:

 

[spenser1058]

From my self-imposed exile, I had to take a moment to mourn the passing of Harriett Lake. For non-profits, LGBTQ+ groups and especially arts organizations throughout Central Florida, Harriet was a giant. Most amazingly, she did it all with style, panache and a joie de vivre that embraced everybody. We'll miss you, Harriett!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/arts-and-theater/the-artistic-type/os-et-harriett-lake-obituary-20171215-story.html

From the Sentinel

Edited July 11, 2018 by spenser1058

[orlandouprise]

Come back Spensy, we miss ya!

[prahaboheme]

Well, in this version of “Orlando folks we ARE NOT proud of”, Orlando was represented quite well on this season of the Bachelorette.

Notably, Chris, a Sales Trainer from Orlando, had a total meltdown on national television: 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/07/bachelorette-power-rankings-episode-6-eliminations-chris-lincoln-leo-jason

[smileguy]

Orlando Ballet dancer (and artist in residence) Arcadian Broad made an appearance on So You Think You Can Dance this season, before withdrawing due to contractual obligations here in town (a performance conflicted with filming schedule.) 

 

 

[spenser1058]

Perhaps no one in Florida ever had as much impact on the environment as Nat Reed. Through his efforts, the Everglades were protected and expanded. The almost two-century old pipe dream known as the Cross-Florida Barge Canal that would  have left an indelible scar on the North Central Florida wilderness was finally stopped. Vast acreages of the state like the Canaveral National Seashore were forever created and preserved for their natural beauty .

Nat had a hand in some of the most progressive environmental legislation ever conceived. He was an old-school Republican who first worked for Governor Claude Kirk but kept on working  with Democrats Reubin Askew and Bob Graham as well as Republican Bob Martinez.

Sadly, much of his legislative work has been torn apart in the last 20 years but no one did more to preserve the natural beauty of Florida than Nat Reed. He will be missed.

Nat Reed, Florida environmental champion, a tribute by Charles Lee of Audubon
http://bit.ly/2NkUt4m

From the Sentinel

 

 

[HankStrong]

Just a quick shoutout to me.  HAHAHAHAHA

This is officially my 1,000th post here.  Kudos to me, if I say so myself.

[spenser1058]

1 minute ago, HankStrong said:

Just a quick shoutout to me.  HAHAHAHAHA

This is officially my 1,000th post here.  Kudos to me, if I say so myself.

Woohoo - Go Hank!

[spenser1058]

It's a sad day in the Milk District. Freeman Smith, patriarch of the Beefy King clan, has passed. 

In a town as transient and fast-growing as Orlando, keeping a business going strong for 50 years (with no sign of it slowing down!) is quite an achievement. Mr. Smith still stopped in regularly to chat with several generations of BEEFY fans. He'll be missed.

Beefy King patriarch Freeman Smith passes away at 93
http://bit.ly/2LTeQZn

From the Sentinel

[I am Reality]

Local hero Deney Terrio, from Titusville.

He changed the world with Dance Fever, Saturday Night Live, and The Wrath Of Khan.

 

 

Edited August 12, 2018 by I am Reality

[spenser1058]

Our very own klstorey makes the New York Times:

In a Divided Era, One Thing Seems to Unite: Political Anger  
https://nyti.ms/2OIUU98?smid=nytcore-ios-share

 

[spenser1058]

Not from Orlando but a South Floridian:

Smokey and the Bandit star, Cosmo centerfold and FSU football player Burt Reynolds has died:

'Smokey and the Bandit' star Burt Reynolds dead at 82
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/ny-ent-burt-reynolds-dead-20180906-story.html

From the Sentinel

He was no doubt one of Florida's best known good ol' boys.

Edited September 6, 2018 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Longtime Greenwood Cemetery sexton Don Price is retiring. Thankfully, his wildly popular nighttime tours will continue.

He's thinking about what comes next including the tours to downtown. In a city that supposedly has no history, Don's a local treasure and I can't wait to see what he does next.

In retirement, Don Price's stories at Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery will continue
http://bit.ly/2OQomia

From the Sentinel